Suit prompts SDSU review of Schemmel travel records

San Diego State will conduct a “thorough review” into Athletic Director Jeff Schemmel's travel expense records to determine whether he may have requested university reimbursement for personal expenses, a university spokesman said yesterday.

The review comes after an Alabama man filed suit in San Diego Superior Court to subpoena Schemmel's university travel records.

The suit is part of the divorce proceedings of John David Lineberger, whose wife, Carolyn, said under oath in deposition testimony that Schemmel had multiple sexual trysts with her in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, and Point Clear, Ala. A hotel bill paid by credit card in Point Clear in January lists Schemmel and “San Diego State Univ,” along with 5500 Campanile Dr. (SDSU's address). It was for three nights, totaling $814.57.

“We take allegations such as these very seriously and are committed to a thorough review,” said Jack Beresford, associate vice president, marketing and communications, at SDSU.

Carolyn Lineberger said under oath during a deposition that Schemmel had no other business in Alabama in January except to see her, according to the transcript.

“Did he come on university business?” an attorney asked her at her deposition in June.

“No,” she said.

“And his sole purpose for being there was just to see you?” the attorney asked.

“Yes,” she said.

She testified that they stayed at the Grand Hotel in Point Clear, near Mobile.

The hotel receipt that listed Schemmel and SDSU shows he paid for three nights from Jan. 16 to Jan. 19.

John Lineberger's subpoena seeks certified copies of “all university credit card statements” for any credit card used by Schemmel for May and October 2008 and January of this year.

“This is a private matter between Lori (Schemmel's wife) and me,” the statement said. “We have worked hard to put this behind us. We ask that our privacy be respected on what is a family issue.”

John Lineberger seeks to subpoena records that will help him determine how his wife's meetings with Schemmel were paid for in Dallas/Fort Worth in May and October 2008, and then in Alabama in January, his attorney, Buddy Brackin, said.

Brackin said the reason they are trying to determine this relates to their legal strategy in the divorce case, which he declined to reveal. SDSU said it would comply with the subpoena “as always.”

Carolyn Lineberger filed for divorce Jan. 5 in Alabama.

She testified she met Schemmel about 11 years ago in Austria but they didn't become romantically involved until May 2008, when he was in Fort Worth for the Mountain West Conference baseball tournament.

In October 2008, she said she met Schemmel again in the Dallas area. The SDSU football team played at Texas Christian in Fort Worth on Oct. 4, 2008.

Carolyn Lineberger said her relationship with Schemmel was mutually broken off earlier this year.

Schemmel has been SDSU's athletic director since July 2005. His contract, worth $257,000 annually, runs through June 2013. Earlier this year, SDSU added three years to his original deal.